Dealer Experience - Duckysboats in Middletown, PA

[mrfritz44]

OK, so I've got the new 207 home and have had some time to think about things and my experiences over the past month. I'm a first time boat owner, so that surely affected my perspective, although I was also a Coast Guard coxswain so I'm not new to the boat game. I'll keep the log of events as objective as possible and relate only what happened so that it may be of some value to someone else. The last portion is the human factor and my opinion - take it for what it's worth.

I started my search with several dealers from local guys down to North Carolina. Chatlees got a call (no surprise there, eh?), but settled for Ducky's based on price and relative locality. I negotiated a loose deal and then began the process of putting it to paper. On the third try Ducky's got the purchase order 97% correct after I took the time to e-mail the list of options I wanted. Ducky's said there was a 100% chance the boat would be ready by the end of July which also factored into my decision to use them.

July 31st came and went and I had received no word from Ducky's. Ducky's could tell me nothing of when I could expect delivery and after several failed backs from them, I called Sea Hunt myself. There I spoke to Jay who was very helpful and said that the factory was having trouble keeping up with orders. Good enough, at least I had heard it from somebody.

On August 6th, after several more failed call backs from Ducky's I called Jay once more. Jay guaranteed that the boat was scheduled for delivery on August 10th and that there was no chance Sea Hunt would miss that date. As promised, the boat arrived at Duckys on the 10th. I did a preliminary boat check and took several photos, then Duckys informed me that although the boat would be rigged and ready the following Thursday (August 16th) the trailer was not ready from Venture trailer in Baltimore. Duckys made no guarantees that the trailer would be ready Thursday although the boat would be - fair enough.


With the discussion of props and such on this board, I decided that I had beeter stick with the tested prop specification and request an 18 pitch prop. Duckys said they do not carry 18 pitch props and it would need to be ordered. Not wanting to delay the delivery, I said no thank you and that the prop listed in the purchase order would suffice.

On Wednesday, August 15th, I called Duckys to see if the trailer would be ready and if I could pick up my boat two weeks late. After a failed call back from Ducky's I finally spoke to them and was told the trailer would be ready on Tuesday, August 21st. Monday afternoon arrived and I called Duckys and Venture to confirm delivery of the trailer the next day. The Venture Sales VP mentioned that the trailer had been ordered "only recently", but said it would be delivered on Tuesday. I made plans for the pickup.


I arrived at Ducky's and noticed a SS 19 pitch Yamaha Saltwater series prop installed. Great I thought, this high price prop wasn't listed on the P/O, but the owner said I'd be happy with it. I finished my boat check and noted several things.


There was a 3/16" gap between the T-top/console connection on the right side. Duckys said this was normal and happened on all Sea Hunt T-topped boats.
I noted that the Lowrance was glued into the console from the rear only half way around the unit. I was told that was the way it was done.
I noted that the rear anchor light did not function and was told that when a T-top is installed, I am supposed to use the t-top all around white light as the anchor light.
I noticed that the fire extinguisher I had put in my p/o e-mail was missing. Ducky's said that it wasn't on the P/O and they were right - I had missed it before I signed. Duckys threw it in anyway thankfully.
I was given a NauticPath chip valued at $99 in place of the chip marked on the P/O ("Nav Chip" - meaning Navionics. We had discussed the $200 version prior to signing the P/O). I pointed this mistake out and the new Navionics chip was ordered.
On final sale I was told that the SS saltwater series prop was going to cost me an extra $150. I asked them to remove the charges and the prop and to repalce the previous SS satin, which they did.

Other than these items, and the fact that the boat was filthy with drill shavings and dirt, all else was in order.


Disclaimer - the subjective part is about to begin. After all this I can honestly say that this purchase was a chore. Duckys is obviously very busy and it's hard for them to account and communicate consistently - for this they get low marks in my opinion. Workmanship is acceptable, although shortcuts were taken and it could have been better. In the end I get the feeling that my sale was more of a chore for them than they were used to - not a good feeling to have after dropping over 40 grand in all. I still feel as though I'm not being told something. In the end the price made them attractive and you get what you pay for.

Update - I just measured the anchor line that was supplied with the boat. The line was supposed to be 100' - it's 50'. Nickel dime, nickel dime........geez.

I also still haven't received the dust cap and cover for my trailer hub that fell off three weeks ago.

Steer clear......

[Ed'sMarineSuperstor]

over 40 grand for a 207

[BW23]

"There was a 3/16" gap between the T-top/console connection on the right side. Duckys said this was normal and happened on all Sea Hunt T-topped boats.
I noted that the Lowrance was glued into the console from the rear only half way around the unit. I was told that was the way it was done. "

I know you ordered your boat but were similar quality problems visable on other SH's on their lot ? I believe the Dealer installs the T tops and they should have corrected the problem.

The other items is typical Ducky's. Poor service after they have your money !


Ed's ? Ball park figure what you charge for a 07 , 207 ?

[mrfritz44]

40 grand was everything included with most available options........including taxes and installed electronics, and aluminum trailer. A similar package was quoted at nearly 50K up the road from me.

[Ed'sMarineSuperstor]

BW23 - 9/24/2007 9:55 AM

Ed's ? Ball park figure what you charge for a 07 , 207 ?

Sea Hunt will not allow us to price any boats over the internet. I can tell you that a 232 with every factory option cannot get to 40. They only boat we sell in the 40's in the 240.

[mrfritz44]

Does this include all that I listed above? 40 isn't the price for the boat, it's the price for everything.

(most available options........including taxes, tags, and installed electronics, full mooring cover, and aluminum trailer)

[StakeoutToo]

with all that aggravation you're still going thru in hindsight I guess you were better off buying out of town from a dealer like Chatlee's who does orders like this all the time...haven't heard any bad things about them.. so much for 'buying local' and having 'less problems'...

[monomoy74]

You know it's bad when even Ed's Marine is laughing.

[FASTFJR]

Wow. In 05 I spent 23K for a loaded 202 and I thought that was a lot. Remind me never buy a boat from Duckys.

[erikrs301]

mrfritz44 - 9/24/2007 12:46 PM

40 grand was everything included with most available options........including taxes and installed electronics, and aluminum trailer. A similar package was quoted at nearly 50K up the road from me.

"Up the road" you mean Highway Robbery? Every other deal looks like a good deal compare to them. As for Ducky's, only ever used them for parts when I was living out that way for a couple years, can't post an opinion.

[Jettywolf]

Damn, that story is probably "the typical" when it comes to boat dealers, and many production boats.
You could have bought a "Indy car" easier than buying that boat.

How much??

Ya could have gone custom plate alloy instead and been treated like a valued customer.

[njbilll]

Do you need to buy a new car ??? Call me 1st !

[dog]

Mr fritz44.
You should have asked for opions about Ducky's from this board befor dealing with them. I have many friends in the area
that have made the same mistake you did. What ever you do find someone else to do your maintance work.

[RSV]

I bought one boat from Ducky's about 15 years ago. After sales assistance was poor. They have had legal problems in the past with trailer titles. Just don't recall the specifics.

[BW23]

dog - 9/25/2007 4:34 PM

Mr fritz44.
You should have asked for opions about Ducky's from this board befor dealing with them. I have many friends in the area
that have made the same mistake you did. What ever you do find someone else to do your maintance work.

He did ask here and I PM'ed him some info and he still purchased from them. Now he wants to come back and complain.

Everything he posts is typical Ducky!

[bvs]

Mrfritz44,

Ducky recently quoted me $45,000 for a 2008', 24 foot Sea Hunt Center console with 250 HP (no tralier). The boat had the T-Top and was pretty loaded. No electronics though.

[mrfritz44]

Finally got the trailer light I asked to be replaced, but still no dust cap. Now it's been well over a month.

[mrfritz44]

- double post -